Food container with attached napkin

ABSTRACT

A food container with attached napkin. The napkin is attached to the food container so as to be useable by a diner eating food contained within the food container, yet remains attached to the food container so as not to blow around creating an unsightly condition, as well as a potential visibility hazard. The food container may be made of sheet of material, or may be any other appropriate container such as a plate, a dish, etc. The food container may be an envelope sized to house the napkin until it is required. An alternate embodiment teaches a cover sheet disposed between the food container and napkin, so the cover sheet may be used to cover food disposed in the food container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to food containers, and in particular to a foodcontainer with attached napkin.

2. Background of the Invention

Fast foods sold in venues such as race tracks are typically servedwrapped in tin foil or disposed in some other disposable food containersuch as a paper plate, cardboard container, etc. These fast foods mayinclude hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages, slices of pizza, etc. No napkinsare typically available, because of the very real danger that improperlydiscarded napkins could blow across the race track while a race is inprogress, stick to a race car windshield, create a blind spot for thedriver, and cause a potentially fatal accident.

The problem associated with this type of food service lies in theabsence of napkins. Without a napkin, eating a hot dog, hamburger orsausage covered with ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, pickle relish, and/orsauerkraut and onions can be a messy proposition indeed. The dinerfinding himself in these straits has no alternative but to wipe hishands on his pants, shirt, or nearby grass, none of which is a goodsolution.

Thus it would be desirable to provide a napkin anchored to the foodcontainer itself, so that the napkin would be unlikely to blow out ofcontrol across a race track. This solution would provide a napkin to thediner, thus avoiding the current practice of wiping one's hands off onone's pants or shirt. When the food container is disposed of, so alsowould be the napkin, still firmly attached to the food container. Thiswould prevent the napkin from blowing onto the race track, while stillpermitting access to napkins by the diners.

Another benefit available in any location of providing napkins attachedto food containers is reduction in wind-blown debris in the form ofnapkins. As each food container is thrown away, so also is the napkinassociated with such food container. Thus, it would be desirable toprovide a napkin attached to a food container, in order to avoidwind-blown napkin debris.

Existing Designs

Capy et al. were granted U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,783 for a fast foodcontainer which featured a pocket containing a napkin. This combinationwas intended to reduce napkin waste, by eliminating napkin dispensersfrom fast food restaurants, and only supplying napkins which werecontained in the fast food containers themselves. While this approachmay reduce the consumption of napkins, no provision to attach the napkinto the food container was taught. Thus, the Capy et al. design didnothing to solve the problem of loose napkins blowing around in thewind.

Bernstein was granted U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,456 for a food container whichcould be unfolded and used as a napkin. Unfortunately, the effectivenessof use of the container as a napkin is limited, because the container istaught to be made of paper coated with a grease-resistant composition.In addition, the food had to be completely removed from the container,and the container collapsed, in order to use it as a napkin.

Thus it would be desirable to provide a napkin anchored to the foodcontainer itself, so that it could be used in its capacity as a napkinwithout having to first empty the food container of food, and then usethe food container itself as a napkin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a foodcontainer with attached napkin which provides a napkin permanentlyattached to a food container. Design features allowing this object to beaccomplished include a napkin attached to a food container such as asheet of aluminum or tin foil, plate, dish, etc. Advantages associatedwith the accomplishment of this object include prevention of loosenapkins blowing around, along with the attendant reduction in the dangerof a blown napkin obstructing the view of competitive racers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a foodcontainer with attached napkin whose napkin is manufactured of absorbentmaterial. Design features allowing this object to be accomplishedinclude a napkin manufactured of absorbent material permanently attachedto a food container. Benefits associated with the accomplishment of thisobject include a functional napkin for the use of the diner, andelimination of the need for the diner to wipe his hands off on hisclothes.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a food containerwith attached napkin which is inexpensive to produce. Design featuresallowing this object to be achieved include the use of readily availablematerials and off-the-shelf components. Benefits associated withreaching this objective include reduced cost, and hence increasedavailability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with the other objects, features, aspects andadvantages thereof will be more clearly understood from the following inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Five sheets of drawings are provided. Sheet one contains FIGS. 1, 2 and3. Sheet two contains FIGS. 4 and 5. Sheet three contains FIGS. 6 and 7.Sheet four contains FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. Sheet five contains FIGS. 11 and12.

FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of a food container with attached napkin.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a food container with attached napkin.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a food container with attached napkin.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate embodiment food container withattached napkin whose food container is a plate.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment food container withattached napkin whose food container is a plate.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment food container withattached napkin whose food container is a dish.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment food container withattached napkin whose food container is a dish.

FIG. 8 is a top isometric view of an alternate embodiment food containerwith attached napkin whose food container is an envelope, with thenapkin attached to and stored in the envelope.

FIG. 9 is a top isometric view of an alternate embodiment food containerwith attached napkin whose food container is an envelope, with thenapkin attached to and withdrawn from the envelope.

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment foodcontainer with attached napkin whose food container is an envelope, withthe napkin attached to and stored in the envelope.

FIG. 11 is a top isometric view of an alternate embodiment foodcontainer with attached napkin whose food container is a plate with acover sheet attached, and a napkin is attached to the cover sheet.

FIG. 12 is a top isometric view of an alternate embodiment foodcontainer with attached napkin whose food container is a plate with acover sheet attached, and a is napkin attached to the cover sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring how to FIG. 1, we observe a top isometric view of a foodcontainer with attached napkin 2. Food container with attached napkin 2comprises napkin 6 attached to food container 4. Food container 4 may beany type of food container, including but not limited to a sheet made ofmaterial such as aluminum foil or tin foil, a plate, a dish, a soupcontainer, or any other conceivable type of food container. Foodcontainer 4 may be a sheet of plastically deformable material, forexample an aluminum foil or tin foil wrapper such as is commonly used towrap hot dogs, Italian sausage sandwiches, hamburgers, fish sandwiches,and sandwiches, hoagies, and subs of all varieties, etc. This type ofwrapper is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

Food container 4 may also be a paper plate (as is illustrated in FIGS. 4and 5), a disposable cardboard rectangular dish (as is illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7), or any other conceivable type of food container.

FIG. 2 is a top view of food container with attached napkin 2, and FIG.3 is a bottom view of food container with attached napkin 2. As may beobserved from these views, napkin 6 may be attached to food container 4along one edge of food container 4.

In use, food may be served wrapped in food container 4, with napkin 6co-extending food container 4, as is depicted in FIG. 1. When it isdesired to eat the food (such as a hot dog, hamburger, etc.), foodcontainer 4 is unwrapped from the food item, and napkin 6 is allowed tohang from the edge of food container 4 to which it is attached. Thatportion of the food which is not yet eaten may be held in food container4, and the diner may periodically avail himself of napkin 6 to wipe offhis fingers, hands, mouth, etc. Napkin 6 is manufactured of absorbentmaterial such as paper napkin or paper towel material, such as isreadily available in the market.

In the interest of simplicity and clarity, the instant figures depictnapkin 6 as a single, unfolded sheet of napkin material. However, it isintended to fall within the scope of this disclosure that in anyembodiment of the instant invention, napkin 6 may be folded in anyappropriate manner, with at least a portion of napkin 6 permanentlyattached to food container 4. Napkin 6 may then be unfolded asappropriate for use.

Napkin 6 may be attached to food container 4 in any appropriate manner,including but not limited to adhesive, tape, heat bonding, fasteners, orany other appropriate manner of attaching napkin 6 to food container 4.

After food served in food container 4 is eaten, and further use ofnapkin 6 is not desired, food container 4 with napkin 6 still firmlyattached is discarded in an appropriate trash receptacle. In thisfashion, napkin 6 is prevented from blowing freely around. Even if foodcontainer with attached napkin 2 is dropped on the ground, not in atrash container, the weight of food container 4 helps prevent foodcontainer with attached napkin 2 from blowing around and creating anunsightly and possibly hazardous condition. This elimination of the“blown napkin” problem is accomplished in all embodiments of the instantfood container with attached napkin 2 disclosed herein, due to thepermanent attachment between napkin 6 and food container 4.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate embodiment food container withattached napkin 2 whose food container is a plate 8. FIG. 5 is a bottomview of an alternate embodiment food container with attached napkin 2whose food container is a plate 8. In the preferred embodiment plate 8was a commercially available disposable plate such as paper plate,plastic plate, or any other appropriate plate 8 to which napkin 6 may bepermanently attached.

In use, food may be served on plate 8, with napkin 6 disposed eitherbelow plate 8, over plate 8 serving as a cover for the food on plate 8,or hanging free. When it is desired to eat the food on plate 8, napkin 8may be moved below plate 8 or allowed to hang free, ready for use by thediner. As described above, if napkin 6 was folded, it may be unfoldedfor use.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment food container withattached napkin 2 whose food container is a dish 10. FIG. 7 is a bottomview of an alternate embodiment food container with attached napkin 2whose food container is a dish 10. In the preferred embodiment dish 10was a commercially available disposable dish such as paper dish, plasticdish, or any other appropriate dish 10 to which napkin 6 may bepermanently attached.

In use, food may be served on dish 10, with napkin 6 disposed eitherbelow dish 10, over dish 10 serving as a cover for the food on dish 10,or hanging free. When it is desired to eat the food on dish 10, napkin 8may be moved below dish 10 or allowed to hang free, ready for use by thediner. As described above, if napkin 6 was folded, it may be unfoldedfor use.

FIG. 8 is a top isometric view of an alternate embodiment food containerwith attached napkin 2 whose food container is an envelope 12, withnapkin 6 attached to and stored in envelope 12. FIG. 9 is a topisometric view of an alternate embodiment food container with attachednapkin 2 whose food container is an envelope 12, with the napkin 6attached to and withdrawn from envelope 12. FIG. 10 is a sidecross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment food container withattached napkin 2 whose food container is an envelope 12, with napkin 6attached to and stored in envelope 12.

As may be observed in these figures, this embodiment of food containerwith attached napkin 2 comprises envelope 12 comprising envelope cavity16 communicating with an exterior of envelope 12 through envelope mouth14. Napkin 6 is attached to envelope 12 at envelope mouth 14, and issized to fit (either folded or unfolded) within envelope cavity 16, asis depicted in FIG. 10.

One embodiment of the instant invention wherein the food container is afree-standing envelope 12, is illustrated in FIGS. 8-10. In thisembodiment, envelope 12 may be manufactured of aluminum foil or tinfoil, and in use, is wrapped around food to be served in it, such as ahot dog, hamburger, or Italian sausage sandwich. When a diner wishes toeat the food, he unwraps envelope 12 from around the food, and may useenvelope 12 to support the food while it's being eaten. When the dinerwishes to avail himself of napkin 6, he withdraws napkin 6 from envelopecavity 16 through envelope mouth 14, as indicated by arrow 18 in FIG. 9.If necessary, the diner may unfold napkin 6. Napkin 6 may then be usedfor its intended cleaning/absorption purpose.

Another embodiment of the instant invention intended to fall within thescope of this disclosure comprises envelope 12 containing napkin 6 asdescribed above attached to another food container such as plate 8, dish10, etc. In this embodiment napkin 6 remains stored within envelopecavity 16 until required for use, at which point napkin 6 is withdrawnfrom envelope cavity 16 through envelope mouth 14. In this manner,napkin 6 remains conveniently stored within envelope cavity 16 untilrequired for use.

After use, as with all other food container with attached napkin 2embodiments disclosed herein, food container with attached napkin 2 isdiscarded, and the weight of food container 4 helps prevent foodcontainer with attached napkin 2 from blowing around and creating anunsightly and possibly hazardous condition.

FIG. 11 is a top isometric view of an alternate embodiment foodcontainer with attached napkin 2 whose food container is a plate 8 witha cover sheet 20 attached, and a napkin 6 attached to cover sheet 20.FIG. 12 is a top isometric view of an alternate embodiment foodcontainer with attached napkin 2 whose food container is a plate 8 witha cover sheet 20 attached, and a napkin 6 attached to cover sheet 20.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12, plate 8 is attached alongone edge of cover sheet 20 and napkin 6 is attached along an oppositeedge of cover sheet 20. Cover sheet 20 may be aluminum foil or tin foil,and may serve to cover food served on plate 8 until ready forconsumption. At that time, cover sheet is folded away from plate 8 as isdepicted in FIGS. 11 and 12, thus rendering food on plate 8 availablefor consumption. Napkin 6 may be used for its intendedcleaning/absorption purpose as desired.

Although the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12 shows the foodcontainer as being a plate 8, it is intended to fall within the scope ofthis disclosure that the food container in the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 11 and 12 be any appropriate food container, including but notlimited to plate 8, dish 10, sheet food container 4, a soup container,or any other food container.

After use, as with all other food container with attached napkin 2embodiments disclosed herein, food container with attached napkin 2 isdiscarded, and the weight of food container 4 and cover sheet 20 helpprevent food container with attached napkin 2 from blowing around andcreating an unsightly and possibly hazardous condition.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustratedherein, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theappending claims.

DRAWING ITEM INDEX

-   2 food container with attached napkin-   4 food container-   6 envelope-   8 plate-   10 dish-   12 envelope-   14 envelope mouth-   16 envelope cavity-   18 arrow-   20 cover sheet

1. A food container with attached napkin comprising a napkin attached to a food container.
 2. The food container with attached napkin of claim 1 wherein said napkin is made of absorptive material.
 3. The food container with attached napkin of claim 2 wherein said food container is a sheet of material.
 4. The food container with attached napkin of claim 3 wherein said food container is made of a plastically deformable material.
 5. The food container with attached napkin of claim wherein said food container is made of tin foil or aluminum foil.
 6. The food container with attached napkin of claim 3 wherein said napkin is attached along one edge of said sheet of material.
 7. The food container with attached napkin of claim 2 wherein said food container is a plate.
 8. The food container with attached napkin of claim 2 wherein said food container is a dish.
 9. The food container with attached napkin of claim 8 wherein said napkin is attached along one edge of said dish.
 10. The food container with attached napkin of claim 2 wherein said food container is an envelope having an envelope cavity, said envelope cavity communicating with an exterior of said envelope through an envelope mouth, said napkin being sized to fit through said envelope mouth and in said envelope cavity.
 11. The food container with attached napkin of claim 10 wherein said napkin is attached to said envelope along said envelope mouth.
 12. The food container with attached napkin of claim 2 further comprising a cover sheet attached between said food container and said napkin.
 13. The food container with attached napkin of claim 12 wherein said food container is attached along one edge of said cover sheet, and said napkin is attached to said cover sheet along an opposite edge of said cover sheet.
 14. A food container with attached napkin comprising a food container and a napkin attached along one edge of said food container.
 15. The food container with attached napkin of claim 14 wherein said food container is a plate.
 16. The food container with attached napkin of claim 14 wherein said food container is a dish.
 17. The food container with attached napkin of claim 14 wherein said food container is an envelope having an envelope cavity, said envelope cavity communicating with an exterior of said envelope through an envelope mouth, said napkin being sized to fit through said envelope mouth and in said envelope cavity.
 18. The food container with attached napkin of claim 17 wherein said napkin is attached to said envelope along said envelope mouth.
 19. The food container with attached napkin of claim 14 further comprising a cover sheet attached between said food container and said napkin.
 20. The food container with attached napkin of claim 19 wherein said food container is attached along one edge of said cover sheet, and said napkin is attached to said cover sheet along an opposite edge of said cover sheet. 